The Snohomish school District transportation department sent out a letter on July 21 stating changes that will be implemented in this coming year's transportation plan.

Veronica Schmidt, Snohomish transportation supervisor explained in the letter that during the last two years their office had engaged in a process of reviewing and updating all basic education transportation routes in order to improve efficiency, align services with state funding and ensure consistency throughout the district.

They started by convening a 'transportation safety committee' which included parents, WSP officer, principles and a representative from the Snohomish County Transportation Department. This committee was charged with identifying hazards and developing root safety criteria.

With that criteria in place the transportation office then developed a list of bus route and stop adjustments. Those adjustments or changes were grouped into several categories:

• eliminating transportation within 1 mile of each school,
• creating designated stops in neighborhoods and developments,
• eliminating transportation on private or dead-end roads,
• eliminating transportation outside of school boundaries,
• combining middle school and high school roots in rural areas.

The transportation office views these changes as relatively small but when combined they will save the district roughly 4 teacher positions at $70,000 each or the equivalent of about $275,000.

The district wanted to give as much notice as possible so that families can adopt these changes in their pickup and drop-off location as early as possible.

Some concern was relayed to the Snohomish Times Newspaper about these changes. One neighborhood mentioned was the Outlook Ridge development located on Seattle Hill Road near Seattle Hill elementary. The concern stems from the amount of traffic that the main connector between I-5 and Snohomish, Seattle Hill Road, was not conducive to having young children unsupervised mingling about this main road. There are over 250 families in Outlook Ridge, how many children will be at one bus stop has Ti Kim worried.

Other unique concerns center on children walking to Seattle Hill elementary without the availability of sidewalks or crossing guards. Several other families in the same development have children going to Little Cedars elementary and are concerned about having elementary aged children blocks away from their home waiting for a bus on a busy road out in the elements.

Dan and Michelle who have a boy starting kindergarten at Seattle Hill elementary said they would drive their child every day if it comes down to him to walking alone to school. They hadn't received their letter from the District transportation office yet but would update us on the status of their pickup and drop-off point or even if there isn't one.

Other similar situations from families all over the district have parents concerned so if you or anyone else has questions or concerns they are encouraged to e-mail the district transportation office at transportation@sno.wednet.edu or 360.563.3525.

The transportation routing committee will be meeting periodically throughout the summer and if you believe there are extraordinary circumstances that you would like this committee to consider, a bus stop change request form is available on the Snohomish school District website by clicking commonly requested forms.

We will be checking with MS Schmidt on the status of parents concerns and updating you on the results.